Omnium Bike Shop has been a labor of love and has connected us to so many great people and the community we live in. Martin and I have always said that if Omnium ever took a backseat to our lives it would risk losing the energy and enthusiasm it is known for. We never wanted that to happen, even if it meant closing the shop to preserve it. Since we first opened a lot of things have changed in our lives. It seems “bike-shop owner” is increasingly taking a second place to things like “father,” “grandfather,” and “husband” for both of us. Rather than let Omnium lose that enthusiasm we cherish, we decided that it’s time to close this chapter in our lives.

As of Dec. 16th of this year, Omnium Bike Shop will be shutting its doors for good. (Yes, it used to say 23rd, but we are out of stuff.)

We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to, supported and made Omnium something to be proud of. All the employees, family members, customers, vendors, team members, and friends made it great and we really owe it all to you. It really turned into something special. Who knew all we had to do was open our doors and you all would do the rest?

If you have any questions specific to us closing, please feel free to reach out to us.

When the Bigfoot first hit the shop two years ago, we were floored. Up until that point, decent Fat Bikes were in the realm of 2K, with a few dipping into the 1K+ market. Then Norco talked with us that year at Interbike and said ‘We think we can make a pretty great Fatbike, but it’d be under 1,000 USD – do you think it would sell?’

Needless to say, we said yes.

We’ve always sold out of these and so the name is pretty appropriate. It only took two weeks to blow through our original supply when it debuted and last year it took a bit longer – but still more demand than supply. We’re sure that this year will be no different, so be sure to come into the shop and take advantage of #BigfootSeason while it lasts.

But when you start looking deeper, you’ll see a thought process that goes beyond just making a well equipped bike. It’s bars are a shallow drop – perfect for those looking to get started (or really any rider). The tires are a 25c (but fit up to a 28c, great for commuting or off-road road biking). The extensive tube shaping smooths out the aggressive alloy ride and keeps the lively feel we’re all looking for. It’s obvious that whoever brought this into the world knew what they were doing.

Usually, we’re selling this bad boy for $1,200. The Market Analysts would tell you that a bike over $1K won’t sell to the starter crowd. To the folks just looking to get in. We’ve shown that they’re wrong.

That in mind, it’s time to spread the love. We’re selling this guy for only $900 now. That’s right.

It’s no secret that every great bike fit starts at the most important point of contact – the foot. Without getting your shoe position down pat, you’re just laying a sandy foundation on which all the rest will crumble. We believe in this so much, we’re going to be discounting our Bont Vaypor Road shoes for the duration of the stock. This means whatever we have left, can be yours for only $150.

With plenty of good riding left this season, come on in and get your feet taken care of. Don’t just enjoy the rest of the season – revel in it.

It’s no secret that we dig on Cyclocross. With July in full swing and August just around the corner, the first race of the season is almost upon us. But Cyclocross isn’t just one season – it’s year round. It’s the dirt paths connecting trails. The River Bottoms. The freedom to jump off of any curb without fear of retribution. It’s a lifestyle.

There’s a few folks who’ve come into our shop looking for a way to dip their toes in the River Cross – but for most it can be daunting. $1,500 or $2,000 on a bike they might not even like (that’s silly, of course they will, it’s a bike – but you get the picture).

Enter the State Bicycle Co. Thunderbird. For only $999, you can jump right in and open up a whole new world of fun. Alloy frame, carbon fork, Avid disc brakes – I mean, it’s got it all. It’s the type of bike you jump on, fall in love with and then pay for hoping the sales person doesn’t check the price. But no! It’s not too good to be true! It exists! And you aren’t getting away with it because we already know!

We’ve got a 55CM in the shop but we’ll have more soon. Because, how could you not?

(Did we mention you can put studded tires on this and rock some Winter too? OH YEAH BECAUSE YOU TOTALLY CAN)

We’re bummed that the Four Firkins is closing its doors for the last time this Friday. Jason and the gang have always helped us find the best that beer had to offer and we’ve always left their shop with a smile on our face.

Consider this our standing ovation, our bravo!, our highest praise. Jason, you created something real special and we’re sad to see it go.

You may have noticed a few (OK – more than a few) times we’ve thrown up a SAINT PAUL BICYCLE WEATHER REPORT on the Twitter and the Facebook. Maybe even the Instagram. It’s all about giving you, the cycling populous, the information you need to get through the day. Riding across our fair city is difficult enough without the sky falling down, so we do what we can.

But folks, we can’t do it alone. We need your help. So if you’re out there, riding your bicycle and pondering the weather take some time to stop and snap a photo. Maybe just a few words on the Twitter. Whatever you do to let your fellow cyclist know what’s going down.

Just tag your photo with #StPBWR (or #SaintPaulBicycleWeatherReport if you’re into that) and we’ll share the ones that we like the best and give you a little shout out for what you do. Maybe even a cool thing for free if it’s informative/funny/non-sequitur enough.

We love bike racing and when it shows up in our own backyard, we take notice. This Wednesday evening at 6:15 PM, some of the best will line up and rip up our cobbled and not-so-cobbled streets in Downtown St. Paul. We’re all about that. So this Wednesday at 5 PM, we’ll be lighting up our grill, pouring some drinks and handing out the good vibes. Come 6 PM, we’ll hop on our bicycles, ride down the hill and get ready to watch some racing.